Should I change my Lufthansa Frequent Traveller membership to Aegean Miles+Bonus or another program to reach Gold status more easily?
47% View from the Wing
20% Economy Class & Beyond
20% Running with Miles
13% Other
Sticking with Lufthansa Frequent Traveller (a Star Alliance Silver tier) will keep you at the same level, but moving to a program that lets you reach Gold more quickly is worth considering.
How Lufthansa Gold compares
- To become a Lufthansa Senator (Star Alliance Gold) you need 100 000 miles per year if you live outside Germany (or 130 000 miles if you live inside Germany) Economy Class & Beyond .
Easier paths to Star Alliance Gold
- Aegean Miles&Bonus – Gold can be earned with as few as 24 000–36 000 elite miles a year and only four to six Aegean flights View from the Wing Running with Miles View from the Wing . A 1 000‑mile sign‑up bonus also helps View from the Wing .
- Turkish Miles&Smiles – Gold is reachable with 40 000 elite miles a year, and the airline often offers status‑match opportunities that can bypass the mileage requirement Wild About Travel View from the Wing .
- Asiana Club – Requires 40 000 earned miles (over a longer period) and the status lasts at least two years once earned View from the Wing Running with Miles .
Recommendation
If your goal is to obtain Star Alliance Gold with the fewest miles and flights, switching to Aegean Miles&Bonus gives the lowest mileage hurdle and a simple retention rule (12 000 miles in 12 months or 24 000 miles on any Star Alliance carrier) View from the Wing . Turkish Miles&Smiles is a solid backup, especially if you can leverage a status match. Staying with Lufthansa would demand a substantially higher mileage commitment.
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